Packing gusts of nearly 300 kph, the storm has strengthened into a super typhoon and is expected to further intensify before hitting Taitung county Up to 1.2 meters of rainfall is expected in mountainous eastern Taiwan and destructive winds are likely to hit coastal areas on Thursday TAIPEI: Taiwan expects Super Typhoon Kong-rey to make landfall on Thursday along its sparsely populated east coast, issuing a warning on Wednesday ahead of the powerful storm that will bring heavy rain and strong winds across a swath of the island. Packing gusts of nearly 300 kph, the storm has strengthened into a super typhoon and is expected to further intensify before hitting Taitung county, according to US Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center. The storm is then forecast to cross Taiwan’s south, enter the Taiwan Strait and head toward China, Taiwan’s Central Weather Administration said, which labelled the storm a “strong typhoon,” the most powerful storm level for Taiwan. Up to 1.2 meters (3.9 feet) of rainfall is expected in mountainous eastern Taiwan and destructive winds are likely to hit coastal areas on Thursday, according to the administration. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te urged people to stay away from the mountains and coast. “I would like to urge my friends in the eastern, southern and northern parts of the country to be on alert,” he wrote on his Facebook page. Taiwan’s defense ministry said it had put about 36,000 troops on standby across the island. Central Weather Administration forecaster Stan Chang said it was relatively rare for a strong typhoon to directly hit Taiwan this late in the year, pointing to the still favorable environment for typhoons, including warmer sea temperatures in the Pacific and later-than-normal cold fronts from the north. “We must urge people to make preparations. It’s a strong typhoon with a large size,” Chang added. Heavy rain is also expected in the north around the capital Taipei throughout the day on Thursday, the administration said. The transport ministry said at least 26 ferry trips to outlying islands had been stopped for Wednesday, while Taiwan’s largest domestic carrier UNI Air said it had canceled all flights for Thursday. Subtropical Taiwan is frequently hit by typhoons. The last one, Typhoon Krathon, killed four people earlier this month as it passed through the south of the island.